HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD, BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties, New Hampshire Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885, 1108 pgs. page 711 BARNSTEAD, NEW HAMPSHIRE - ABSTRACTS ONLY This town lies in the southern part of the country, and is bounded as follows: North by Gilmanton and Alton; east by Alton and Stafford County. This town was granted by Lieutenant-Governor John Wentworth, May 20, 1727, to Rev. Joseph Adams, of Newington, and one hundred and five other, with the following bounds: "To begin on the Head of the Town of Barrington on the South West side of the Town of Coulraine and running by the said Town of Coulraine eight miles & from the said Town of Coulraine to run on the Head of Barrington Line South West forth Two Deegrees six miles & then North West eight miles, then on a straight Line to the head of the first eight miles." Among the early settlers were the following: Ebenezer Adams, Colonel Richard Sinclair, James Dealing, John Bickford, Arthur Bickford, Charles Hodgdon, John Elliott, John Nutter, Joseph Bunker, Moses Dennett, John Bunker, Eli Bunker, Jacob Pickering, John Peavey, Isaac Garland, John Keniston, Pitt Lougee, P. Daniels, Damuel Caswell, Captain John Drew, Aaron Chesley, John Tasker, Moses Rand, William Lord, Lemuel Hayes, John Pitman, E. Nutter. THE FIRST TOWN MEETING was held November 22, 1775, with Gilmanton. The first grist-mill was erected by John Bunker, about 1769. He also built the first saw-mill in town. The first postmaster was Charles Hodgdon, Jr., and the first mail-carrier was John S. Shannon, of Gilmanton. The first reference in the town to schools is dated March 15, 1792, when it was voted "to have agents in each school district to build a school-house in each district," and the following were chosen: Samuel Nelson, Dependence Colbath and Charles Hodgdon. The first settled teacher was Cornelius Kirby and his school was in the south part of the town. Money was raised for school purposes in 1785-- thirty pounds. The first lawyer in Barnstead was Caleb Merrill, in 1811. Among the other lawyers who have practiced here may be mentioned Isaac O. Barnes, Moses Norris, J. Elkins, A.E. Hodgdon, Benjamin Winckley, Charles S. George, Charles R. Rogers and H.B. Leavitt. The first physician was Dr. Joseph Adams, in 1792. Dr. Jeremiah Jewett, Sr., also settled here, in 1792. He died in 1836. Among other physicians have been Noah J.T. George, S.P. Woodward, William Grover, Charles Whittle, John Wheeler, William Walker, George W. Garland, Mark Walker, B.W. Sargent, A.G. Weeks, Alvin Jenkins, S.S. Wentworth, Jeremiah Blake, Dana Buzzell, J.P. Elkins, James Emerson. The present physicians are G.H. Hawley and William H. Nute. The following citizens of this town were in the old French War: John Aiken, Colonel Joseph Sinclair and Joseph Bunker. WAR OF THE REVOLUTION--The town responded nobly to the colonial cause. In 1775 the population was two hundred and fifty-two. The first reference to this war found on the old town records is under date of April 26, 1775, when Captain Richard Sinclair was paid 1 pound 11s. 6d. for "going down below for the defence of our country." The following is a list of Revolutionary soldiers from this town: Ebenezer Nutter, John Clark, Major John Nutter, Jeremiah Jewett, Anthony Nutter, Joseph Place, Valentine Chapman, Joseph Taker, William Nutter, Thomas Welch, Peletiah Penny, J.P. Dame, James Davis, Samuel Davis, E. Adams, David Jacobs, J. Young, E. Tebbetts, H. Nutter, Captain Jonathan Chesley, Captain John Drew, Thomas Brown, William Lord, Joseph Sanborn, Captain Joseph Kaime, Samuel Eastman, Colonel Nath. Pease, Robert Tebbetts, Samuel Jenness, Ralph Hall, Joseph Huckins, John Welch, Richard Sinclair, Nathan Nutter, Eli Ham, John Pitman, Perry Hixon, W. Ayres, John Aiken, -- Avery, William Hill, Thomas Ayres, James Marden, John Emerson, Samuel Pitman. WAR OF 1812--The following men from Barnstead were in the War of 1812: Captain John Peavey, J. Davis, F. Chesley (died), D. Bunker, P.G. Hoit, Joseph Foye, John Rand, W. Rand, John Kaime, C. Peavey, Silas Bunker, T. Bunker, James Davis, G.T. Barker, John Place, W. Rand and T. Conner. Nicholas Kenison and Alfred T. Munsey served in the Mexican War. Kenison was killed in battle. WAR OF THE REBELLION [CIVIL WAR]--Barnstead responded prompty to the call of her imperiled country, both in men and money. The following is a list of soldiers from the town: William B. Aiken, Frank Sleeper, G.H. Bridges, -- Dudley, William Brimage, E.G. Hodgden (killed), Captain and Major H.H. Huse, Lieutenant J.H. Greenwood (killed), Lieutenant S.J. Smart (died), D.D. Hanscom, L.W. Jackson (mortally wounded), Rufus Clark, J.E. Bunker, Smith Davis, T.M. Huse, J.S. Hill, Daniel Lewis, J.E. Moores, B.R. Munsey (died), J.T.G. Smart (died), S.G. Shackford, C.H. Williams, Albert Davis, W.B. Aiken, D.A. Littlefield, J.M. Smart (died), Colonel Thomas E. Barker, B.F. Chesley, Calvin Pitman, John McNeal, W.P. Huntress (killed), J.W. Hill (mortally wounded), Assistant Surgeon A.C. Newell, Thomas Moore, J.L. Garland (killed), C.Chesley, G.W. Pitman, J.L. Piper, G.W. Aiken (died), J.N. Bunker (killed), T.J. Pierce (mortally wounded), J. Pendergast (died), A.D. Hall, S.W. Young, W.T. Knight (killed), Moses Bickford, J. M. Tasker, Lieutenant David Sackett, H.H. Emerson, M. Jenkins, J.H. Edgerly, H.M. Parshley, A.L. Bickford, George Jones, Solomon Clark, J.C. Russell, W.H. Berry (mortally wounded), G.T. Munsey (mortally wounded), Noble Sackett, C.H. Pickering, C.H.P. Young, W.U. Shaw, Lieutenant H. Edgerly, Horace Munsey (died), L. Place, W.A. Frye, George W. Blake, J.E. Emerson, G.H. Emerson, H. H. Young, J.M. Jones, J.F. Chesley, John Hill (died), D.L. Huse (died), Charles W. Adams, O.F. Chesley, J.F. Parker, Royal Boynton, A.S. Buzzell, Timothy Blake, Jr., W.A. Chesley, Jacob Lord, J.C. Mason (died), H. D. Nutter (died), H.G. Shackford, Samuel H. Clark, G.W. Blake, Eli H. Foss, A.O. Adams, W.F. Hanscomb, C. Kaime, Horace Cough, J.C. Kaime, N. Sackett, N. Blaisdell, J.C. Ham, J.S. Hayes (mortally wounded), Charles Hill (navy); Surgeons, John Wheeler, T.H. Wheeler and L. M. Sanders. The first meeting-house in Barnstead was erected about the year 1760 and the first preacher was Rev. Joseph Adams. The "Parade Meeting-House" was built about the year 1788, and was the first frame church in town. It was not completed until 1799. The Second Congregational Church building was erected in 1803. It was demolished in 1848. The North Meeting-House was erected in 1820, and repaired in 1853. The Centre Church was erected in 1830. [The book goes on to list representatives to the state legislature from 1797 to 1885, and are not included here.] TOWN CLERKS. The following is a list of town clerks from 1775 to 1885: Benjamin Nutter 1775-81 Samuel Nelson 1781-85 John Bunker 1785-87 Benjamin Hodgdon 1787-1800 Charles Jodgdon, Jr. 1800-5, 1807-15 J. Jewett, 1805 Enos George 1815-59 C.S. George 1859 H.N. Colebath 1860 C.W. Blanchard 1861 Charles E. Walker 1862-64 L.C. Scrutton 1865 John H. Hill 1866 J.E. Pendergast 1867-68 George Emerson 1868-73 Albert F. Shackford 1874 to present time [The book goes on to describe a "Reunion" held in Barnstead August 30, 1884, and is not included here] page 714 BIOGRAPHIES [abstracts only] HON. JOHN G. SINCLAIR was born at Barnstead Parade, in the town of Barnstead, N.H. March 25, 1826. He is the only child of Charles G. and Martha G. (Norris) Sinclair of that town. One of the pioneers of the town of Gilmanton, N.H. was Richard Sinclair, and it is claimed that he erected the first frame house in the town. He was a soldier in the French and Indians Wars, and also in the War of the Revolution. In the latter war, he attained the rank of captain, though in the locality where he lived he was generally known as Colonel Sinclair. He married Polly Cilley, a sister of Colonel Joseph Cilley. . . Their eldest son, Robert Sinclair, Jr., was one of the earliest settlers of the town of Barnstead. Like his father, he was a soldier in the Revolutionary army, and was an ensign in his father's company. His wife was Betsey Hodgdon, and Charles G. Sinclair (father of Hon. John G.) was their only son, who, at the age of seventeen, enlisted as a soldier in the war of 1812, and for a time was clerk for General Ripley. At the sortie on Fort Erie he received a gunshot wound near his right lung, which disabled him for life. He died July 1834, leaving his wife and only child (then a lad of but eight years of age) in destitute circumstances. Mrs. Sinclair was a woman of true Spartan heroism and courage. She set bravely to work with her needle to support herself and her son. With true motherly pride and confidence in her boy's ability..she determined to do all in her power to give him an education, and so kept him at school at Pittsfield Academy till he was thirteen years of age. He then entered the employ of Webster & Peavey, merchants at Landaff, N.H. The firm consisted of Hon. Samuel Webster of North Barnstead, and Samuel P. Peavey, a former resident of Barnstead, who had married a sister of Mrs. Sinclair. He remained at Landaff six years, and during the time attended five terms at Newbury Seminary in Vermont, where he fitted for college under the mition of Bishop Baker and Rev. Clark T. Hinman. Ambitious as he was to enter college and acquire a liberal education, yet a fear lest he might die and his mother be left destitute inducted him to forego his desires in that regard and bend his energies to business pursuits. His first venture was a restaurant at the corner of Hanover and Elm Streets, Manchester NH. This not proving Consonant, with his tastes was soon abandoned, and he established an auction and commission business in Lawrence, Mass. He was fairly successful in this, and having acquired limited means, he returned to his native State and established a country store, and also engaged in the manufacture of starch in Bethlehem, N.H. He represented Bethlehem in the State Legislature from 1852-55, 1862-63, and in 1876-78. In 1873 he represented Littleton in the legislature, being then a resident of that town. He was appointed Bank Commissioner by Governor Baker. In 1858-59 he was a State Senator from the Twelfth Senatorial district (composed of Grafton and Coos Counties). He was the democratic candidate for speaker of the house, and democratic candidate for Governor in 1866,67 and 68. In 1868 he was chairman of the NH Delegation to the National Convention, and in 1876 was democratic candidate for United States Senator, against Edward H. Rollins, republican. He was an effective public debater. In 1879 Mr. Sinclair moved to Orlando, Orange Co. Florida where he established a large and lucrative real estaet business, and is also engaged in the cultivation of oranges and other semi-tropical fruit. Mr. Sinclair has been twice married; first in 1847 to Tamar M., daughter of Colonel Daniel Clark of Landaff. By this marriage there were three children--Charles A., Emma S., and Martha A. His first wife dying, he married in 1872, Mary E. Blandin, daughter of John Pierce, Esq. of Littleton NH. [more biography and likeness] ==================== THOMAS LEWIS HOITT, was born in Barnstead, near the Parade-Ground, April 1, 1827, being the seventh in a family of five sons and seven daughters, children of Benjamin Hoitt, a respectable farmer, who was born in Hampstead, N.H. in 1790. His grandfather, Thomas Hoitt, born in Chester about 1750, was a gentleman of fine education for his time, especially in mathematics, and in his younger days was engaged in teaching and land-surveying. His name appears on the roll as ensign in the company of Captain Samuel McConnel at the battle of Bennington. He subsequently joined the United States navy, and rose to the rank of lieutenant, and was serving in that capacity on a vessel of war at the time of his death, of yellow-fever, in Surinam, in 1796. He was honored by burial in the garden of the Governor of that colony. Mr. Hoitt traces the lineage of his family to John Hoyt who came from England and was living in 1639 at Salisbury, Mass.... The mother of Mr. Hoitt was Mehitable (Babson) Hoitt, daughter of Isaac Babson, of Dunbarton, a graduate of Harvard College, in the class of 1779, and Nelly (Stark) Babson, daughter of Major-General John Stark, of the Continental army. This family of Babson descended from James Babson, who with his mother Isabel, a widow, came from England to Salem, Mass., where they resided in 1644. Isabel moved to Gloucester and died in 1661, aged eighty-four. James settled at Little Good Harbor and died December 21, 1683. Mr. Hoitt remained at home attending the public and select schools and assisting in farm-work till 1842, when, at fiftenn years of age, he entered the employ of Mr. Baily Parker, a careful and successful merchant of Pembroke, N.H...receiving training of a clerk in a country store. After leaving the service of Mr. Parker he was employed in a woolen-factory by the husband of his eldest sister, J.B. Merrill, Esq. and also became associated with him in the ownership of a general store in his native place. In 1855 he located at Salmon Falls... operating a dry-goods store, from which ill health compelled him to retire. In 1861 [the Civil War] he joined the "Fighting Fifth" Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, and followed its fortunes till the close of McClellan's Peninsula campaign, when he was discharged. He is pensioned for injury received during the famous retreat. After leaving the army he engaged in trade at North Berwick, Me. He next took charge of business, which required him to travel much of the time, and traversed a large part of the United States...while traveling between Washington and the army on business, he arrived at the scene just in time to be a witness of the destruction of the frigates, "Cumberland" and "Congress" by the rebel iron-clad "Merrimac" and the terrible contest of the latter vessel with the "Monitor." Mr. Hoitt was the first postal agent between Boston and Portland, Me., and when others were appointed he was made chief. For several years he owned and managed a shoe factory in Lynn, Mass. After passing through many changes, reverse and successes, in 1880 he did, what he had long desired to do, returned to his native town, and, with his two widowed sisters, established a pleasant home at the Parade, on the bank of the Suncook River....his wife was Miss Martha Seavey, of Saco, Me. They have a daughter, Henrietta Babson Hoitt, born November 26, 1876... He is a member of the Masonic fraternity...to the degree of Knight Templar. He is a skillful vocal and instrumental musician...he may frequently be seen enjoying a part with Barnstead Brass Band, which is almost fifty years old... [more biography and a likeness] ------end--------